1916 Navy Luger

Gordon.Freiburg · 06-26-2006, 02:37 AM

As this is my first post in this forum, I'd like to say hello to everyone.

I've been reading here for a while since my dad made me curious about Lugers and since yesterday I'm even more curious because I paid a visit to my dad and he showed me his latest achievement.

It is a 1916 Navy Luger and I have to say it is in excellent condition bearing in mind that it is 90 years old.
All numbers are matching including the magazine. Unfortunately there came only one magazine with the pistol and not the three magazines that were originally supplied.

Here is one picture I took yesterday with my digicam. I shrunk it a bit in order to fit onto the screen.

What do the experts here think about this Luger?

Imperial Arms · 06-26-2006, 03:14 AM

Hello Gordon,

So far so good, but could you please provide a better image showing the sideplate which appears to be darker than the rest of the pistol. In addition, please provide a better image of the safety area.

Albert

Gordon.Freiburg · 06-26-2006, 03:30 AM

Dear Albert,

please try these links:

Safety

Safety 2

Sideplate

The pictures were taken in a hurry with non-optimal light conditions (bright daylight coming from the left).

drbuster · 06-26-2006, 09:07 AM

I agree with Albert. Also, the strawed parts looked polished and re-strawed. If the price is right, it wouldn't matter that much to me.

Navy · 06-26-2006, 01:17 PM

Clearly the gun has been dinked with; "improoved". One could get over the polish/re-straw, but the sideplate is singularly unattractive.

Tom A

Gordon.Freiburg · 06-26-2006, 01:54 PM

I agree that the plate looks darker than the rest but I think this effect is boosted by the light coming from the left side.

Do you really think the strawed parts have been fiddled with?

Dwight Gruber · 06-26-2006, 02:37 PM

"Do you really think the strawed parts have been fiddled with?"

Gordon,

Take a look at the extremely high polish of the strawed parts on this Navy Luger and compare them to pictures of other Lugers you will find around these Forums.

Look particularly for "age" spots, spots and patches which have turned dark or black within the straw finish.

Look for areas of faded straw where a finger would normally touch it during use--the right side and face of the trigger, the forward surface of the right end of the mag release.

Look at the strawing faded, sometimes turning nearly black, on the lower part of the thumb safety where the inside of the thumb contacts it during shooting.

Look at the bottom of the checkering grooves of the mag release and takedown lever where yours is polished bright all the way to the bottom.

--Dwight

John Sabato · 06-26-2006, 05:05 PM

Despite the fact that the gun has been upgraded in finish of various parts, it is certainly a nice example of a Navy... and a candidate for shooting... Even if some collector value has been lost in the refinish process, I wish it were mine.

I offer my congrats to you in owning this Luger...

Big Norm · 06-26-2006, 07:02 PM

I have to agree with everyone regarding the strawing of the thumb safety and the locking bolt. On a ninety year old gun, one should expect some dirt in the checkering on the locking bolt and in the flutes on the thumb safety. Gordons parts are just too clean. Somebody did a nice job on the locking bolt though. Very little metal was removed and some of the beveled edges still seem to remain.

I also agree that the side plate is suspicious for the same reasons at stated above. The proof marks on the left side of the frame and on the left side barrel look pretty good. I wouldn't mind seeing close-ups of the serial numbers and proofs on the underside of the barrel and on the front of the frame. I would also like to see the serial numbers on the magazine. It could be that, with the exception of the mentioned restawing and the questionable bluing of the side plate, the rest of the gun could be good. I would have to see more pictures.
Big Norm

Parabellus · 06-26-2006, 11:37 PM

Hi Gordon,

I don't know enough to judge your Navy. I just know what I like. How does it shoot?
By the way, welcome to the Forum.

Russell

Gordon.Freiburg · 06-27-2006, 01:21 AM

Hi Big Norm.

All I can offer at the moment are the pictures I took last weekend. As I'm a weekend-commuter, I will not be able to take any new ones before the weekend.

Here are the links to the hires pictures from last weekend (~1MB each):

One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty

As for the serial numbers: Can you please explain me why many people, e.g. Simpson Ltd. are XXing out the full serial number? Is there any risk in disclosing it to the public?
Edit: After using the search function I found a couple of older threads dealing with this issue and my question is answered.

06-26-2006, 02:37 AM	#1
Gordon.Freiburg New User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	1916 Navy Luger As this is my first post in this forum, I'd like to say hello to everyone. I've been reading here for a while since my dad made me curious about Lugers and since yesterday I'm even more curious because I paid a visit to my dad and he showed me his latest achievement. It is a 1916 Navy Luger and I have to say it is in excellent condition bearing in mind that it is 90 years old. All numbers are matching including the magazine. Unfortunately there came only one magazine with the pistol and not the three magazines that were originally supplied. Here is one picture I took yesterday with my digicam. I shrunk it a bit in order to fit onto the screen. What do the experts here think about this Luger?

06-26-2006, 05:05 PM	#8
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	Despite the fact that the gun has been upgraded in finish of various parts, it is certainly a nice example of a Navy... and a candidate for shooting... Even if some collector value has been lost in the refinish process, I wish it were mine. I offer my congrats to you in owning this Luger... __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

06-26-2006, 03:14 AM	#2
Imperial Arms Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Malta, EU Posts: 579 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Hello Gordon, So far so good, but could you please provide a better image showing the sideplate which appears to be darker than the rest of the pistol. In addition, please provide a better image of the safety area. Albert

06-26-2006, 03:30 AM	#3
Gordon.Freiburg New User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Dear Albert, please try these links: Safety Safety 2 Sideplate The pictures were taken in a hurry with non-optimal light conditions (bright daylight coming from the left).

06-26-2006, 09:07 AM	#4
drbuster User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: San Mateo, California Posts: 1,432 Thanks: 2 Thanked 71 Times in 56 Posts	I agree with Albert. Also, the strawed parts looked polished and re-strawed. If the price is right, it wouldn't matter that much to me.

06-26-2006, 01:17 PM	#5
Navy RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dc 'burbs in Virginia Posts: 2,482 Thanks: 0 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	Clearly the gun has been dinked with; "improoved". One could get over the polish/re-straw, but the sideplate is singularly unattractive. Tom A

06-26-2006, 01:54 PM	#6
Gordon.Freiburg New User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I agree that the plate looks darker than the rest but I think this effect is boosted by the light coming from the left side. Do you really think the strawed parts have been fiddled with?

06-26-2006, 02:37 PM	#7
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,889 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,281 Times in 423 Posts	"Do you really think the strawed parts have been fiddled with?" Gordon, Take a look at the extremely high polish of the strawed parts on this Navy Luger and compare them to pictures of other Lugers you will find around these Forums. Look particularly for "age" spots, spots and patches which have turned dark or black within the straw finish. Look for areas of faded straw where a finger would normally touch it during use--the right side and face of the trigger, the forward surface of the right end of the mag release. Look at the strawing faded, sometimes turning nearly black, on the lower part of the thumb safety where the inside of the thumb contacts it during shooting. Look at the bottom of the checkering grooves of the mag release and takedown lever where yours is polished bright all the way to the bottom. --Dwight

06-26-2006, 07:02 PM	#9
Big Norm RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 1,864 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	I have to agree with everyone regarding the strawing of the thumb safety and the locking bolt. On a ninety year old gun, one should expect some dirt in the checkering on the locking bolt and in the flutes on the thumb safety. Gordons parts are just too clean. Somebody did a nice job on the locking bolt though. Very little metal was removed and some of the beveled edges still seem to remain. I also agree that the side plate is suspicious for the same reasons at stated above. The proof marks on the left side of the frame and on the left side barrel look pretty good. I wouldn't mind seeing close-ups of the serial numbers and proofs on the underside of the barrel and on the front of the frame. I would also like to see the serial numbers on the magazine. It could be that, with the exception of the mentioned restawing and the questionable bluing of the side plate, the rest of the gun could be good. I would have to see more pictures. Big Norm

06-26-2006, 11:37 PM	#10
Parabellus User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: SF Bay Posts: 195 Thanks: 16 Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts	Hi Gordon, I don't know enough to judge your Navy. I just know what I like. How does it shoot? By the way, welcome to the Forum. Russell

06-27-2006, 01:21 AM	#11
Gordon.Freiburg New User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi Big Norm. All I can offer at the moment are the pictures I took last weekend. As I'm a weekend-commuter, I will not be able to take any new ones before the weekend. Here are the links to the hires pictures from last weekend (~1MB each): One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve Thirteen Fourteen Fifteen Sixteen Seventeen Eighteen Nineteen Twenty As for the serial numbers: Can you please explain me why many people, e.g. Simpson Ltd. are XXing out the full serial number? Is there any risk in disclosing it to the public? Edit: After using the search function I found a couple of older threads dealing with this issue and my question is answered.